First Rebuild completed 1995

Having been off the road since 1977, luckily I had the foresight to write to DVLA in 1983 asking them to retain the original registration etc. 

When my son Simon was 14 years old, we decided to rebuild the Moke. We got back to our house in Upwey from my grandmother's nice dry garage and stripped it right down during 1992. In May 1993, a bodyshop in Sutton Poyntz (near Weymouth) offered to rebuild the bodyshell and repaint it on the condition that he could take some time fitting it when work was slack !  The cost was only £300 so it seemed like a good deal. We chose blue as the body colour rather than orange !  (VW (76/77) colour - Riff Blau EF40). The original plan was to use the engine from my mother's (P reg) Mini - the bodywork was in poor condition but the engine was low mileage. However, this did not happen and it many ways it was good to retain many of the original engine parts.

We contacted Runamoke Ltd (Ron Smith) who had moved to Essex and purchased a rollbar and various other fittings and Moke components during the rebuild (using fax as a means of communication). We had the original gearbox rebuilt by Steve (?? ) of B J Autobits in Cranborne, Dorset and purchased a reconditioned short engine from a Court Engineering of Yetminster, Dorset. A new wiring harness and all new brake pipes, master and slave cylinders, wheel bearings, steering rack etc were fitted along with many components sourced locally - Crescent Street autoparts of Weymouth were very useful and efficient in getting things in those pre-internet days. The bucket seats purchased in 1970 were reused but with new seat belts using the rollbar as modern standard anchor points. A later type front grille was fitted to cover the crude hole in the front panel and to give good access to the front of the engine. Five new tyres were purchased and the sub frames were in good condition and reused. Rear one having been renewed in 1976. 

Finally, we contacted DVLA quoting our 1983 letter and an inspector came down to verify the vehicle details. We got a new MOT certificate and insurance.

The Moke was finally back on the road on 1st April 1995.

Notes : 

1/4/1995 - First MOT and back on road after rebuild 

July 1995 - First long trip to Blackpool (Moke Club National) (722 miles) 

Jan 1996 - Original Speedo failed - sourced a second hand one from a breakers yard. Adjusted to give correct overall mileage from new.

31/3/1996 - 2nd MOT (no issues)  Mileage 105911

June 1996 - A purpose made rear bike rack was fabricated to Simon's design. This can take 2 mountain bikes and we fitted a 7 pin trailer socket to allow a number plate board to be fitted to the rear of the rack. Still all operational 2023.

June 1996 - Wheel bearing and front hubs renewed : mileage 107000

August 1996 - New front windscreen fitted with rubbers (after Simon's trip to French Alps). We managed to crack the one bought from Runamoke Ltd but got an auto glass company in Christchurch, Dorset to cut another using damaged as a template. This screen still in place at 2023.

31/3/1997 - OIl change, renewed o/s rear brake cylinder. 

25/3/1997 - New steel wheels (5No) purchased as originals started to leak + 2 new tyres. Mileage 114568 (from Midland Wheel Supplies Ltd £146.42 including a set of wheelocks nuts. Still in use 2023.

30/5/1997 - Renewed exhaust valves

11/7/1997 - Renewed front wheel bearings and ball joints. New tyre to front. Resolved bearing problem 

15/9/1997 - Mileage 119038 (after Welsh trip of 738 miles)

5/9/1998 - New points & distr cap

Sept 1998 - Welsh trip mileage 120962 (after trip of 648 miles)

August 2003 - Bartletts : welded plates to n/s/f floor pan and o/s centre box section Mileage 122760

August 2003 - Moke Club clear out team - bought new panels from last Moke factory in Italy _ panels £629.00.  Most used in 2015 rebuild.

18/8/2006 - MOT Bartletts mileage : 124184

16/8/2007 - Ditto mileage 121538

28/07/2008 - Ditto mileage 123078

13/08/2009 - Ditto mileage 124864 adjust clutch

20/8/2010 - Ditto mileage 126591

24/8/2012 - Ditto mileage 129409

20/7/2013 - 2 New tyres Marshal KR11 69T (W.Abbas)

September 2014 - MOT failed with extensive rust found especially in floor panels.  SORN made to DVLA and Moke taken off the road.   Mileage : 127147.     Second rebuild undertaken - see link